The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-25

To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Journal:
By local option methods some Of the cities
could never become free of the saloon nuisance
The low-down elements of society, infamed and
controlled by the liquor interests, and recruited
from the ranks of the moderate drinkers who
lose their self-control, and from the vicious
lower classes of the foreigners who come among
US, together present an opposition so formidable
as to render the task Of annihilating the traffic
in such localities utterly hopeless one. Now.
what shall be done2 Give up the contestl By
no means Add to the number in favor of law
and decency who live in the cities, the splendid
nnajorities in favor of prohibition in the rural
portions OF State, and You at once obtain a
moral leverage against the traffic which it breads
more than all the high license laws that can be
enacted. By this means the saloon becomes
sort OF contraband of war Under pres
organized capacity, is not a neutral
factor, as it ought to be, in the contest between
the people and the saloon Under any system
of license high or low, granted by the national,
State or municipal government In their several
organized capacities the arms of warfare
against the people are granted to the enemies of
the people, and thus they obtain their advan-
tages, and 1rampe upon the most sacred human
rights, no power of redress being left.
Now, suppose the possession of a saloon, or
the business of traficking in intoxicating liquors
be declared to be of warfare upon the
highest interests of the people, and the right be
denied the legislative powers of the national,
State or municipal governments to put arms into
the hands of part of the people TO make war
upon the other part, and what would be the re-
suits Not an utter humiliation of the traffic
nor total suppression of intemperance at a
single blow. but. the very impe-
ments and appliances by which and
through which criminals are made, and
corrupt malorities are obtained, will become
the counterfeiter, or the false keys and the jim
my in the hands of the burglar. Ali this may
be accomplished without single attempt to en-
force prohibition Vast majorites of the people
to-day believe in the criminality of the LIQUOR
traffic. All know that the direct results of in
temperance are criminal Yet the laws Of the
land, at least in many parts of it. do not hold
the business criminal-to shame be it
said When once it is held to be crime to
manufacture sell intoxicating liquors for
drinking purposes, then under such laws, none
but criminals would engage in It Hundreds
would go out Of the business in any State upon
the mere enactment of such laws. Although a
radical temperance man, cannot but believe
who would not think of continuing in the bust
sanction given to it through the license system.
Such deep impression of the dark and forbid
ding character of whisky selling could not be
made under local-option methods long
single locality in the State continued to grant
license for consideration. Men would say, IF
it is not certainly wrong in such place, it is not
certainly wrong in any other place." and moth
ing whatever but the abject terror of enforced
law would restrain the man of vicious tenden-